Safety revaporizer for liquefied gas systems



Se t. 22, 1942. A. L. TUCKER 2,296,750

SAFETY REVAPORIZER FOR LIQUEFIED GAS SYSTEMS FiledF eb. s, 1941 ARTHUR L. TUCKER INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 22, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 SAFETY REVAPORIZER FOB. LIQUEFIED GAS SYSTEMS Arthur L. Tucker, Oklahoma City, Okla. Application February 3, 1941, Serial No. 377,190

6 Claims.

The details in the construction of a preferred form of my invention, together with other aims and objects, will be better understood from the following description when'read in connection with the appended drawing, which is chosen for illustrative purposes only, and in which,

Figure l is a central vertical sectional view showing details of construction;

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken through the device at a point indicated by the line 2-2' of Figure l; and V Figure 3 is a similar view taken through the device along the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

The invention includes an elongated container preferably made in two parts, a body and a cover plate 6, separated into two chambers, 1 and 8, by a transverse partition 9 in the center of which is formed a valve seat l0.

An integral flange I I serves to suspend the partition 9 between flanges l2 and [3 of the body and cover plate respectively. A sealed joining of the three is preferably accomplished by means of gaskets I4 and I5 and bolts and nuts IE, but may be accomplished by other means.

Suspended from the nether side of the partition 9, and preferably integral therewith, is a spider type valve guide, designated asa whole by the numeral l1, sleeve l8, and spaced supporting arms I9, 20, 2|, and 22. It will be noted that the partition 9 is preferably of the funnel type so that any liquid which passes through the valve will fall downward in the center of the chamber 8 rather than spreading toward its sides.

A valve head 23 is mounted in the chamber 1 with its stem 24 extending downward through the guide [1. A valve spring 25 hearing against the upper end of the sleeve 3 and against the valve head serves to normally maintain the valve in open position,

An open topped bucket 26 is rigidly attached to the valve stem 24 by any suitable means, as by a which guide includes a guide the continuous flow of gas the gas passes freely through the passage multiple armed spider 21. This bucket 26 is of such cross-sectional size and shape with relation to the cross sectional size and shape of the chamber 8 as to leave a vertical passageway 28 between the respective exterior and interior walls of the two. The bucket is thus free to move upward and downward within the chamber 8 without materially affecting vided for the chambers 1 and 8 respectively.

. Operation In use, it is contemplated that the device will be installed in a gas system at some location in which it will be maintained at a temperature above the volatilizing point of the particular liquefied gas being handled, preferably inside the house or building in which the gas using appliances are located.

The service line or conduit leading from the outside storage tank is ,suitably connected with the inlet 29, and the conduit or conduits for feed? ing the gas using appliances are connected directly to the outlet 30, with the device in a vertical position. As long as the fuel which enters the chamber 1 is in the form of gas, the valve 23 remains open under the tension of spring 25, and into chamber 8, downward 28 and to the appliances through outlet 30, as indicated by the short arrows in Figure 1. However, when liquefied gas is delivered into the chamber 1 it passes downward through the valve'and accumulates in the bucket 26. The tension of the spring 25 is preferably such that when the bucket is about half full, the combined weight of the liquid 3| and the bucket 26 forces the valve 23 to seat-thus preventing the entrance of more liquid gas into the chamber 8.

Since the temperature of the device is above the volatilizing point of the liquefied gas, as previously stated, the liquid in the bucket changes into a gaseous form, passes down around the bucket and out through the outlet 30. It will thus be seen thatthe flow of gas to the appliances is not interrupted when the valve 23 is closed.

When the major portion of the liquid 3| has vaporized, the spring 25 forces the valve 23 open, and flow of either'gas or liquid into the chamber 8 from the chamber 1 is resumed.

From the above description it will be seen that this invention positively prevents gas in liquid form from reaching the gas using appliances,

the fluid passage area 28. Suitable inlet and outlet openings 29 and 30 are pro regardless of external weather conditions. In some installations it may be necessary to provide a tube 32 for equalizing the gas pressure in the chambers I and 8. The open upper end of this tube should terminate at a point immediately adjacent theextreme upper end of the chamber 1, which would under normal circumstances prevent the passage of liquid through this tube.

While I have described and illustrated a specific embodiment of my invention, I am aware that it is capable of embodiment in other forms, and I do not wish to be limited except by the prior art and by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A revaporizer for liquefied gas dispensing systems comprising: a sealed container having an inlet and an outlet chamber arranged one above the other and in communication; a down wardly closing valve in the inlet chamber for controlling the fiow of fluid therefrom into the outlet chamber; means for normally maintaining said valve in an open position; an open topped bucket movably mounted in the outlet chamber and positioned to receive all liquid which enters that chamber; and operative connections between the bucket and the valve for closing said valve when; a predetermined quantity of liquid has accumulated in the bucket.

2. A revaporizer for liquefied gas dispensing systems comprising: a sealed container having communicating superposed inlet and outlet chambers; a downwardly closing valve in the inlet chamber for controlling the flow of fluid therefrom into the outlet chamber; spring means for normally maintaining said valve in an open position; an open topped bucket movably mounted in the outlet chamber and positioned directly beneath said valve to receive all liquid which enters the chamber; a valve stem operably connecting the bucket and valve, whereby a predetermined quantity of liquid in the bucket causes the bucket to move downward in its chamber closing the valve against said spring means.

3. A revaporizer for liquefied gas dispensing systems comprising: a sealed container having communicating superposed inlet and outlet cham-- bers; a downwardly closing valve in the inlet chamber for controlling the flow of fluid therefrom into the outlet chamber; spring means for i' normally maintaining said valve in an open position; an open topped bucket movably mounted in the outlet chamber and positioned directly beneath said valve to receive all liquid which enters the chamber; a valve stem operably connecting the bucket and valve, whereby a predetermined quantity of liquid in the bucket causes the bucket to move downward in its chamber closing the valve against said spring means; and guide means for guiding the reciprocal travel of said valve stem.

4. A revaporizer for liquefied gas dispensing systems comprising: a sealed container divided into two superposed intercommunicating inlet and outlet chambers; a normally open valve in the inlet chamber for controlling the passage of fluid therefrom into the-outlet chamber; and an open topped bucket in the outlet chamber movably mounted in a position to receive all liquid which enters that chamber, said bucket being operably connected to said valve in such manner as to forcibly close said valve when a predetermined quantity of liquid accumulates in said bucket.

5. A revaporizer for liquefied gas dispensing systems comprising: a sealed containerdivided into two superposed intercommunicating inlet and outlet chambers; a normally open valve in the inlet chamber for controlling the passage of fiuid therefrom into the outlet chamber; 'an open topped bucket in the outlet chamber movably mounted in a position to receive all liquid which enters that chamber, said bucket being operably connected to said valve in such manner as to forcibly close said valve when a predetermined quantity of liquid accumulates in said bucket; and means for guiding the movement of said valve and said bucket.

6. In a liquefied gas system in which vaporized gas is conducted through a service main from an exterior source of supply to interior gas using appliances, a device adapted to be inserted in the service main immediately ahead of said appliances for revaporizing any gas which may have liquefied in the main after leaving the source of supply, and for positively preventing gas in liquid form from reaching said appliances, comprising: a sealed container divided transversely into two superposed chambers, the upper one communicating with the source of supply and the lower one with the gas using appliances; a spring pressed normally open check valve in the upper chamber controlling communication between the two chambers; an open topped bucket in the lower chamber attached rigidly to said valve and adapted to move freely downward and upward as the valve closes and opens, and also adapted to catch and hold any liquid which enters the chamher through the valve opening, the accumulation of a predetermined quantity of liquid in said ARTHUR L. TUCKER. 

